Norwalk groups prepare for city-wide cleanup

Kumar Patel tosses a bag of garbage after helping clean up Andrews Field with the Shop Rite Green Team during the Mayor's Citywide Earth Day Spring Cleanup in Norwalk, Conn. on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

Kumar Patel tosses a bag of garbage after helping clean up Andrews Field with the Shop Rite Green Team during the Mayor's Citywide Earth Day Spring Cleanup in Norwalk, Conn. on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

Kumar Patel tosses a bag of garbage after helping clean up Andrews Field with the Shop Rite Green Team during the Mayor's Citywide Earth Day Spring Cleanup in Norwalk, Conn. on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

Kumar Patel tosses a bag of garbage after helping clean up Andrews Field with the Shop Rite Green Team during the Mayor's Citywide Earth Day Spring Cleanup in Norwalk, Conn. on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

NORWALK — Local neighborhood associations and city officials are calling on community members to get involved this Saturday during the annual Mayor’s City-wide Cleanup Event.

Across the city, groups and teams will join together to pick up litter along streets, in waterways, in public parks and other areas throughout the city.

“Norwalk is a beautiful city that offers so much — from beautiful parks and beaches to suburban and urban living,” Mayor Harry Rilling said in a statement. “Litter in our streets and open spaces not only hurts how the city looks, but it is also harmful to the environment and our health.”

One of the organizations calling on volunteers to participate in the day is the Norwalk River Watershed Association.

“This is a day for us to team up and demonstrate our common interests for a cleaner Norwalk,” the association said in a statement. “Keep Norwalk Beautiful has observed remarkable progress from these annual volunteer cleanup events.”

The nonprofit association aims to improve the water quality the Norwalk River watershed. The group said cleanups like this help call attention to important areas for future improvement projects.

“Through your participation they have identified and cleaned numerous habitually abused sites,” a statement from the association read. “Once identified the city will focus on prevention methods which often include contacting adjacent property owners, removing overgrowth and enforcement measures. They have addressed habitually abused sites along the Norwalk River thanks to local environmental groups, including NRWA, and dedicated volunteers.”

Groups can start their day at 10 a.m. at City Hall to pick up supplies, such as bags, gloves, T-shirts and litter pick up tools.

Other organizations, such as the West Norwalk Association, have their own starting points for neighbors to come out and get supplies in their area.

“Our booth will be stationed at Fox Run Elementary School, and neighbors are encouraged to meet us at this location at 10:00am (coffee will be provided) where cleanup supplies will be distributed and residents may select the area(s) they wish to clean on a first-come-first-served basis,” the organization said in a statement.

There will also be rewards for those who participate and send in before and after pictures of their sites. Those groups will be entered into a drawing, of which first place will get a $100 gift card, second place $50 and third place $25.

“Keeping our city clean requires a continual effort on the part of businesses, residents and city leaders — we all must do our part. If everyone would commit to adopting a small spot around their homes or businesses, it would truly make a difference,” Rilling said.

For more information or to submit photos day of, contact David Shockley at 203-854-7810 ext. 46782 or dshockley@norwalkct.org.

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